Be Excellent To Each Other

Here's the first picture of a 2014 car:



I fear the nose will look horrible from the front.

And by the second race we'll have forgotten what last year's cars looked like. This happens every time they change the shape.

It looks pretty similar to me, what are the main differences?

Like I said last time, people still think the "new" cars are ugly - and that was what - 2009?

It probably looks reasonable, but will never be raced.

I think they're some nice-looking machines, some of the cars from bygone eras were right munters.

The nose is the big visual difference between this and last season, but the engine is so different they're not calling them "engines" any more, they are "power units", which consist of a blown V6 engine (rather than the NA V8 last year), a Kenetic "Motor Generator Unit" (MGU) which is like the old KERS system, and a Heat MGU which collects heat energy from the exhaust gases and converts it into electricity via a turbine, which it can store or it can use it to wind up the turbocharger and reduce lag.

The "current" long thin ones aren't as nice as the previous generation "fatties", IMO. You're quite right they're better looking than some of the old ones, though.

That all sounds incredibly complicated, I thought they were trying to make it cheaper? Or do all the teams just buy these systems rather than develop them individually?

Engines are bought from either Ferrari (Ferrari, Sauber & Marussia), Mercades (Merc, Mclaren, Force India and Williams) or Renault (everyone else, I think).

Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out this season, hopefully it'll remain at least a little bit unpredictable for a while. I can see my interest waning a bit if Vettel wins in Australia though.

Honda are back as an engine supplier aren't they?

Fake edit: nope, next year.

The very early 2009 cars were pig ugly. Most notably the BMW which was by far the earliest seen. They did improve though.

I originally started watching in 1992, and they were pretty awesome looking back then IMO:

Hate the front nose 'penis' style look.

You have a strange penis.

Yep no balls

Also the stupid 'double point' rule for the last race is going ahead

Yeah, that's kind of crazy, though if it means they have a race on Rainbow Road then I applaud the innovative move.

That looks lovely, big improvement.

The powerplant tech is glorious 'n'all.

Who cares how the cars look? Krazy Kobayashi is back!

Certainly a highlight.

Egads, that's ugly.

You think this year's cars look bad?

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/142839.html



It looks like a smurf car!

Boy, that article needs a proof reader.

Here's the front of the car that's going to win all the time:


I thought there were rules about having all the fins and stuff on the front wing? Or is that coming in later?

The front wing is less wide, but as far as I'm aware, nothing else has changed.

It seems to make cock all difference when they get knocked off anyway.

Tactical decisions? Planned quick tests? Or are the cars broken and didn't even last a few laps.

If the latter, it might make the season interesting at least if the cars start breaking again. One thing that I miss is the prospect of mechanical failure. The cars are too reliable these days

No, it's broken - there was also a picture of one on a truck.

They should totally standardise and limit the tools the pit crew have to a set of open ended spanners, a flat screw driver with half the tip broken off and a claw hammer.

Make sure the screwdriver is missing half the handle too, and the spanners are Imperial.

I know I'm going on about this, but look at the nose on these things!





(The photographer's website is at http://www.darrenheath.com/season/2014/ ... ge-gallery )


This is Jenson's helmet:



I can't decide if the Smurf is meant to look like his dad, or I'm just imagining it does.

I think he used to call his dad Papa Smurf.

I think you're just imagining it - more because it looks nothing like his father than any smurf knowledge.

I think most of the noses need censoring, the only one that osn't vile is the Merc. The lotus wouldn'tbe too bad were it symettrical.

For now, anyway.

The Ferrari one is vaguely catfish-esque.

It was putting me in mind of an anteater.

I see what you mean.

Grim... Is developing a real peen obsession, isnt he?

Williams Williams Martini is white this year.

Ooh, yeah. Like that. Does it have a penis for a nose like some of the others though?

Probably.

Ah well, love those colours though. Really evocative of old scalextric cars. They just need to bring back John Player Special and Rothmans and we'd be all set.

Oooh, that's nice.

Seems like it's really not looking good for Schumacher, sadly:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motors ... e-him.html

Am I allowed to express morbid amusement at his management team denying any kind of problem?

"Michael is fine, he told me himself yesterday.

These experts, what do they know anyway really?

Oh, and Micahel he also said I should get a new minimum-12-year contract and totes a payrise as well! NUH-UH I'm telling the truth you big meanies!"

So, the Australian GP was pretty good, I thought. I still think the cars look ugly (the McLaren is the worst, I think) and they sound like any other racing car now, but it is nice to hear the tyres being caned and the turbos and all that.

Shame for Daniel Ricciardo, though, But McLaren 2nd and 3rd whoo!

Yeah, they need to get some better microphones or turn it up or something. Half the time on the trackside shots you couldn't even hear them. It was certainly interesting though. Good to see new drivers coming through and things just generally getting shaken up a bit. The Williams would surely have been on the podium if he hadn't nudged the wall.